Texas Senate Bill SB117

Texas 2025 - 89th Regular

• Filed: 11/12/24

Caption

Relating to required immunizations for children and primary or secondary school students.

Impact

The legislation seeks to ensure that every child in Texas is immunized against critical communicable diseases such as diphtheria, mumps, rubella, rubeola, and polio. Additionally, the bill prohibits the executive commissioner from imposing any new immunization requirements beyond those explicitly outlined. This reinforces the notion that health officials will not have the authority to expand immunization mandates arbitrarily, potentially easing concerns regarding overreach in public health policies. The changes in law are set to take effect beginning with the 2025-2026 school year, emphasizing a gradual implementation to allow for adjustment by schools and health officials.

Summary

SB117 aims to amend current requirements surrounding immunizations for children and students enrolled in primary or secondary schools in Texas. The bill proposes the establishment of a comprehensive list of mandated immunizations, particularly focusing on those identified under Section 161.004 of the Health and Safety Code. The legislation mandates that the Department of State Health Services compile and publish this list annually in both English and Spanish, thus ensuring accessibility for families and educational institutions alike. Schools will be required to prominently display this information on their websites, ensuring that parents are well-informed of the immunizations required for their children's admission.

Contention

While the bill is primarily aimed at protecting public health and facilitating the immunization process for children, it is not without its potential points of contention. Critics may argue that the changes could limit flexibility in responding to emerging public health threats, particularly in the context of new diseases that may arise. The requirement for bilingual publication may also lead to tensions regarding resource allocation within school districts, as they might need to invest in additional services for translation and website updates. However, proponents of the bill argue that clarifying these immunization requirements is a step forward for both public health and educational transparency.

Texas Constitutional Statutes Affected

Health And Safety Code

• Chapter 81. Communicable Diseases; Public Health Disasters; Public Health Emergencies
  • Section: New Section

• Chapter 161. Public Health Provisions
  • Section: New Section

Education Code

• Chapter 38. Health And Safety
  • Section: New Section
  • Section: 019

Human Resources Code

• Chapter 42. Regulation Of Certain Facilities, Homes, And Agencies That Provide Child-care Services
  • Section: New Section